Twist release safety cap

ABSTRACT

A safety cap for hand-held dispensers, comprising a tubular cap body having a top discharge opening, a captive closure cap adapted to fit over the opening of the cap body so as to seal the same, cooperable yieldable detent means on the cap body and cap tending to hold the latter firmly on the body, in sealing position, a flexible hinge web structure connecting the cap body and cap for holding the latter captive while enabling it to be swung from the sealing position closing off the body to a discharge position removed from the opening of the body, and an interference lug and a lifting tab disposed respectively on the cap body and cap. The lug and tab overlie and register with each other when the cap has been swung about the web structure and forced down to its sealing position on the body. In the sealing position, the cap can be turnably shifted on the body within limits determined by the web structure, which is sufficiently long to enable the user to bring the lifting tab of the cap out of registration with the interference lug on the cap body, whereby the user&#39;&#39;s finger can then be applied to the underside of the lifting tab for the purpose of removing the cap.

United StatesPatent 1191 Stull Oct. 16, 1973 TWIST RELEASE SAFETY CAP[57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Morton B. Stull, c/o Stull Engraving ASafety cap for hand-held dispensers, Comprising a Company, 221 Bama Avetubular cap body having a top discharge opening, a fi 0702 captiveclosure cap adapted to fit over the opening of the cap body so as toseal the same, cooperable yield- [22] Flled: 8- 1972 able detent meanson the cap body and cap tending to 21] APPL N 2 4,430 hold the latterfirmly on the body, in sealing position, a flexible hinge web structureconnecting the cap body and cap for holding the latter captive whileenabling it [52] US. Cl. 222/546, 215/9 to be swung from the sealingposition closing off the [51] Int. Cl B65d 47/00 body to a dischargeposition removed from the open [58] Field Of Search 220/40, 38.5; 215/9;ing of the body, and an interference lug and a lifting 222/92 #516, 153tab disposed respectively on the cap body and cap. The lug and taboverlie and register with each other [56] References d when the cap hasbeen swung about the web structure UNITED STATES PATENTS and forced downto its sealing position on the body. In 3,612,322 10/1971 Linkletter220/38.5 x the Sealing Position, the p Can be turnably Shifted 3,451,5766/1969 Lewis..... 220/40 R X the body within limits determined by theweb struc- 0 ,8 /19 5 Sony 222/153 ture, which is sufficiently long toenable the user to 3,604,585 9/1971 Twns 222/ 153 X bring the liftingtab of the cap out of registration with 3,307,752 3/1967 Anderson...222/546 X the interference lug on the cap body whereby the 213313; 32217; users finger can then be applied to the underside of 3:426:930 2/1969Hirschler 215/9 the hftmg tab the purpse of removmg the 14 Claims, 12Drawing Figures PAIENIEUmJI 16 ms 3.765.578

sumzura TWIST RELEASE SAFETY CAP BACKGROUND This invention relatesgenerally to safety closures for small dispensers, and more particularlyto devices of this type which require rotation of the cap to apredetermined position to enable its removal from the cap body. In thepast, a number of safety closures have been proposed and constructed. Inmany cases, the closure cap was provided with an internal tab which wascooperable with a discontinuous bead disposed on a bottle neck or capbody. To effect its removal the cap had to be rotated to a particularposition with respect to the body, wherein the tab was aligned with andcould pass by a notch or discontinuous area of the bead. Other priorclosures involved a cap having an external tab which in the sealing orclosed position, was in close abutment with an external annular bead onthe cap body. The bead had a flat or notch, and there were no accessibleprotrusions on the cap for lifting the same until it was rotated withrespect to the cap body so as to bring a lifter tab into registrationwith the flat or notch of the annular body bead. After this was done,the tab could be readily engaged by the users finger, to therebyforcibly lift the cap off the body. Frequently there were marker arrowsdisposed on the cap and cap body which provided to the user anindication of the proper rotary position to which the cap had to beturned if it was desired to remove the same. While many of these priorconstructions functioned acceptably, there were a number of distinctdrawbacks. In several cases, the reassembly of the cap to the containerwas complicated by the fact that the cap had to be oriented to aparticular position in order to enable it to be snapped on. After suchassembly, the cap then had to be rotated in order to bring it to thelock position or condition. In the absence of this last step, the capwould undesirably remain in an unlocked position. In such cases, a childwho inadvertently found or handled the container could readily snap offthe cap without any initial unlocking movement to effect registration ofmarker arrows, or other safety activity involving rotation of the cap.Thus, some of the safety features would be lost, merely by carelessreassembly of the cap. Also, many closure caps which were not of thecaptive type inevitably become lost or misplaced, which had the effectof completely defeating the safety closure concept, as can be readilyunderstood.

SUMMARY The above disadvantages and drawbacks of prior safety closuredevices are obviated by the present invention which has for its mainobject the provision of a novel and improved safety cap which isextremely simple in construction, reliable in operation and which can bemolded inexpensively as a single plastic piece. A related object is theprovision of a safety cap as above characterized, in which the closurecap is reliably guided during reassembly to a fully sealing, lockedposition wherein the closure cannot be reopened until the cap is firsttwisted or turned to expose a lift tab which can then be engaged by theusers finger to effect the lifting.

These objects are accomplished by a novel safety closure comprising acap body and closure cap held in sealing position thereon by yieldabledetent means, there being a flexible hinge web structure connecting thebody and closure cap. The hinge web enables the cap to be swung from asealing position on the body to a discharge position removed from thebody. An interference lug and a lifting tab are disposed respectively onthe cap body and cap; the lug and tab overly one another after the caphas been swung about the web structure to its sealing position on thebody. The hinge web structure is sufficiently long so as to enable theassembled cap to be turned a limited amount with respect to the capbody, to thereby shift the lifting tab out of registration with theinterference lug, wherein the lifting tab can be readily engaged by thefingers of the user for the purpose of removing the cap. The hinge webstructure tends to automatically align the lift tab and interference lugwith each other when the cap is swung from an open position to itssealed position, such that the cap, once sealed, cannot be removeddirectly without first being twisted to expose the lifting tab.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings, illustrating several embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a safety cap constructioncomprising a cap body and captive closure cap, constituting oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the safety cap of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the safety cap.

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of the safety cap of FIG. 1, this viewshowing the closure cap assembled to the cap body and occupying a sealedposition.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the safety cap of FIG. 1, with the closurecap assembled to the cap body and occupying a sealed position.

FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 5 but showing the closure cap ashaving been partially rotated so as to expose the lifting tab, thereof,such that the cap can be lifted by engagement of the tab by a usersfinger.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified safety cap, constituting anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a further modified safety cap, constitutingyet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a still further modified safety cap,constituting still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of still another form of a FIG. 11 is a topplan view of the cap of FIG 10, showing the closure cap assembled to thecap body and occupying a sealed position.

FIG. 12 is a view like that of FIG. '11 but showing the closure cap ashaving been rotated so as to expose a portion of the enlarged liftingtab, thus enabling the cap to be lifted by engagement of the tab by ausers finger.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4 there is illustrated a safety cap 10 forsmall dispensers and the like, comprising a tubular body 12 having a topdischarge opening 14 and a captive closure cap 16 adapted to fit overand close the opening. The safety cap 10 has a conical undercut retainerbead 17 by which it can be permanently assembled to a container 19 bymeans of a force fit. The body 12 comprises an annular sealing lip 18which closely abuts and forms a tight seal with an annular sealing skirt20 disposed in the cap 16. The body of the safety cap further includesan external annular detent bead 22 which is cooperable with an annulardetent groove 24 on the cap 16 such that the latter is normally heldcaptive on the cap body 12 when occupying the sealing position asillustrated in FIG. 2. The detent groove 24 and detent bead 22 arecircular with no interruptions. In addition, the bead 22 and detentgroove 24 constitute bearing means disposed on the cap body and cap,enabling the latter to be turnably shifted on the body. As illustratedin FIG. 6, the web 26 has sufficient length to enable the cap 16 toundergo limited turning movement with respect to the cap body 12.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novelcombination of flexible hinge web structure 26 connecting the cap body12 and cap 16 and interference lug 28 on the cap body cooperating with alifting tab 30 disposed on the cap. The lug and tab are so arranged asto overlie one another when the safety cap is in the sealing positionillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, by theconstruction of the present invention, it will be readily understoodthat, as the cap 16 is swung from an open position (FIG. 1) to a closedposition, (FIGS. 4 and the web structure 26 will automatically tend toalign the lift tab 30 with the interference lug 28, thus placing theclosure in a locked position from which it cannot be directly opened, aswill be explained below.

Also as provided by the invention, the cap body 12 and cap 16 preferablyhave smooth external annular surfaces 32, 34 respectively which closelyabut one another along a common edge and which are substantially flushwith one another, as shown in FIG. 4. The cap and body also have planarsurfaces 33, 35, respectively facing and closely juxtaposed to oneanother to prevent insertion of a tool therebetween for lifting the capoff the body. It will be understood that, once the cap is assembled tothe cap body as in FIG. 5, the cap is firmly held thereon by thecooperable detent bead 22 and detent groove 24. Due to the fact that thefit therebetween is moderately snug, and the fact that there are noprotrusions exposed on the cap, it is virtually impossible to remove thecap when it occupies the position of FIG. 5.

The cap is also provided with oppositely disposed shoulders 37, 39 (FIG.5) constituting a finger grip to facilitate turning of the cap by thefingers. As illustrated in FIG. 6, to remove the cap 16, it is onlynecessary for the user to grasp the body 12 with one hand, and theshoulders 37, 39 of the cap with the other so as to rotate the latter tothe position of FIG. 6, wherein the lifting tab 30 is brought out ofregistration with the interference lug 28. Now, with his finger the usersimply engages the exposed lifting tab, and exerts a relatively strongupward force thereon so as to lift the tab and cap from the cap body,during which the detent groove 24 is forced past and out of engagementwith the detent bead 22. The groove and bead both undergo limiteddeformation to enable this removal to occur.

The above construction has a number of distinct advantages. First, theclosure cap is inherently a reliable safety cap, since the hingeautomatically operates to align the lifting tab and interference lugeach time the cap is reassembled to the cap body. Thus, no additionalsteps are required by the user, such as rotating the cap to a lockposition" following reassembly. The lifting tab is preferably of smallersize than the interference lug so that precise alignment of the two isnot required. By this arrangement, even if the hinge has taken atemporary step, the lift tab will still be in alignment with asubstantial portion of the interference lug, such that there will notexist any protruding portion of the tab by which unauthorized personnelsuch as small children could inadvertently open the cap. Finally, byvirtue of the fact that the cap is always held captive, there is nopossibility that it can inadvertently become lost. Since such a losswould completely defeat the safety closure concept, this feature of acaptive cap is a most important one.

In FIGS. 7-9, there are illustrated modified forms of the safety closurecap. FIG. 7 shows a cap body 12a and cap 16a connected by a single web36 having a serpentine configuration, the web being characterized by apair of reversely curved portions 38 and 40. FIG. 8 shows a single web42 having a zig-zag configuration, connecting the cap 16b to the capbody 12b. FIG. 9 illustrates a pair of flexible hinge webs 44, 46, eachweb having a tenuous configuration, and each supplementing the other tothereby guide the cap when the latter is assembled onto the cap body120.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12,showing a cap 48, cap body 50 and connecting hinge web structure 52. Inaccordance with the present invention, the cap 48 is provided with alifting tab 54 having an incomplete annular configuration extendingthrough an arc substantially greater than The cap body 50 comprises aninterference lug 56, also having an incomplete annular configuration andextending through an are greater than l80. As best illustrated in FIG.10, the interference lug 56 and lifting tab 54 have center portions 58and 60, respectively located adjacent the web structure 52.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention can readilyunderstood. Following use of the container, the cap 48 can be reseatedon the cap body 50 in a manner analogous to that explained above inconnection with the safety cap of FIGS. 16. During the seating, thehinge 52 operates in such a way as to maintain the alignment of thelifting tab 54 and interference lug 56. When seated, the cap 48 willthus have the position illustrated in FIG. 11. Due to the smoothexternal surface 59 of the cap 48, direct removal of the latter when itoccupies this position is virtually impossible, since there is little orno gripping surface exposed thereon. There is a sufficiently tight fitbetween the cap body detent bead (22 in FIG. 1) and the cap detentgroove (24 in FIG. 1) so as to maintain the cap in the seated positioneven in the presence of a moderate lifting force applied thereto.Removal of the cap can be readily accomplished however, by gripping thecap body 50 with the fingers on one hand, and gently rotating the cap 48to the position of FIG. 12 so as to bring the lifting tab 54 out ofregistration with the interference lug 56, and then gently prying thetab (and cap) upwards with the finger as illustrated. In this position,sufficient force can be applied to the cap (through the lifting tab) soas to force the detent groove of the cap over and out of engagement withthe detent bead of the cap body.

The embodiment of FIGS. 10-12 include fillet portions 64 are therespective ends of the hinge web 52. These fillet portions 64 serve twoimportant purposes. First, they reduce the likelihood of the webbreaking, particularly where it joins the cap 48 and the body 50. Also,it provides more stiffness in an edge wise direction to the web, not forbending as in FIG. 11 but with respect to the twisting force in FIG. 12.This added stiffness is so arranged so as to be sufficient to return thecap from the twisted portion of FIG. 12, virtually to the non-twisted,registration position of FIG. 11, thereby making it still more difficultfor a child or unauthorized person to remove the cap. The biasing forceof the web 52 requires the user to not only turn the cap to the FIG. 12position but also to hold it therein against return movement, while thelifting force is being applied. The webs 64 can, as well, be used withthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l-6 to increase thedifficulty of unauthorized removal.

From the above it can be seen that I have provided a novel safetyclosure cap which is extremely simple in construction, being essentiallya one-piece molded plastic part, which is foolproof in its operation,and which provides an excellent degree of safety against inadvertentremoval by small children. The cap construction is thus seen to be adistinct advance and improvement in the field of safety closures.

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from thespirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A safety cap for small dispensers of the hand-held type and the like,comprising in combination:

a. a tubular cap body having'a top discharge opening,

b. a captive closure cap adapted to fit the opening of the cap body soas to seal the same, i

c. cooperable yieldable detent means on the cap body and cap, tending tohold the latter firmly on said body so as to seal the same,

d. a flexible hinge web structure connecting said cap body and closurecap for holding the latter captive while enabling it to be swung from asealing position closing off the body to a discharge position removedfrom the opening of the body,

c. said cap and body having cooperable bearing means enabling the cap tobe turnably shifted on the body within limits as determined by the saidweb structure, and

f. said cap body having a radially outwardly projecting interferencelug,

g. said cap having a projecting lifting tab adapted to overlie andregister with said interferences lug when the cap has been swung aboutthe web structure to its sealing position on the cap body, so as toprevent access to said lifting tab and thus prevent removal of the cap,

h. said hinge web structure being sufficiently long to enable the cap,when in its sealing position, to be turned on said bearing means withinsaid limits so as to shift the lifting tab thereof out of registrationwith the interference lug on the cap body whereby a users finger can beapplied to the underside of the lifting tab for the purpose ofremovingthe cap.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said closure cap and cap body have external annular surfaces whichare substantially flush with each other, whereby no protrusions areaccessible on the cap for lifting the same from the body by means offinger pressure.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said web structure comprises two flexible hinge webs connected withthe cap and cap body, each to supplement the other for guiding the capin its hinging movements.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said web structure comprises a single web having a zig-zagconfiguration.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said web structure comprises a pair of webs each having a tenuousconfiguration.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

a. said single web is characterized by a pair of reversely curvedportions.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said web structure has a serpentine configuration capable of beingstraightened, whereby it can have a greater effective length.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the cap has oppositely disposed shoulders constituting a finger gripto facilitate turning of the cap by the fingers.

9. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the tab and lug on said cap and cap body have planar surfaces facingand closely juxtaposed to one another to prevent insertion of a tooltherebetween for lifting the cap off the body.

10. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said cap has a smooth external surface for reducing grip capabilitythereof by the fingers.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said interference lug has an incomplete annular configuration andextends through an arc substannm b. said lifting tab also having anincomplete annular configuration and extending through an arcsubstantially greater than 12. The invention as set forth in claim 11,wherein:

a. said interference lug and said lifting tab have center portionslocated adjacent the hinge web structure.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 1, and further including:

a. fillet portions integral with said web structure at the juncture ofthe latter with the cap body and closure cap, for increasing thestiffness of the web structure and minimizing the likelihood of breakagethereof,

b. said web imparting a bias force to the cap, to partially return thelatter toward the registration position thereof when the twisting forceis removed.

14. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said web structure has a stiffness in an edge wise directionsufficient to partially return the cap toward the registration positionthereof when twisting force is removed.

1. A safety cap for small dispensers of the hand-held type and the like,comprising in combination: a. a tubular cap body having a top dischargeopening, b. a captive closure cap adapted to fit the opening of the capbody so as to seal the same, c. cooperable yieldable detent means on thecap body and cap, tending to hold the latter firmly on said body so asto seal the same, d. a flexible hinge web structure connecting said capbody and closure cap for holding the latter captive while enabling it tobe swung from a sealing position closing off the body to a dischargeposition removed from the opening of the body, e. said cap and bodyhaving cooperable bearing means enabling the cap to be turnably shiftedon the body within limits as determined by the said web structure, andf. said cap body having a radially outwardly projecting interferencelug, g. said cap having a projecting lifting tab adapted to overlie andregister with said interference lug when the cap has been swung aboutthe web structure to its sealing position on the cap body, so as toprevent access to said lifting tab and thus prevent removal of the cap,h. said hinge web structure being sufficiently long to enable the cap,when in its sealing position, to be turned on said bearing means withinsaid limits so as to shift the lifting tab thereof out of registrationwith the interference lug on the cap body whereby a user''s finger canbe applied to the underside of the lifting tab for the purpose ofremoving the cap.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a.said closure cap and cap body have external annular surfaces which aresubstantially flush with each other, whereby no protrusions areaccessible on the cap for lifting the same from the body by means offinger pressure.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a.said web structure comprises two flexible hinge webs connected with thecap and cap body, each to supplement the other for guiding the cap inits hinging movements.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1,wherein: a. said web structure comprises a single web having a zig-zagconfiguration.
 5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a.said web structure comprises a pair of webs each having a tenuousconfiguration.
 6. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein: a.said single web is characterized by a pair of reversely curved portions.7. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said web structurehas a serpentine configuration capable of being straightened, whereby itcan have a greater effective length.
 8. The invention as set forth inclaim 1, wherein: a. the cap has oppositely disposed shouldersconstituting a finger grip to facilitate turning of the cap by thefingers.
 9. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. the taband lug on said cap and cap body hAve planar surfaces facing and closelyjuxtaposed to one another to prevent insertion of a tool therebetweenfor lifting the cap off the body.
 10. The invention as set forth inclaim 1, wherein: a. said cap has a smooth external surface for reducinggrip capability thereof by the fingers.
 11. The invention as set forthin claim 1, wherein: a. said interference lug has an incomplete annularconfiguration and extends through an arc substantially greater than180*, b. said lifting tab also having an incomplete annularconfiguration and extending through an arc substantially greater than180*.
 12. The invention as set forth in claim 11, wherein: a. saidinterference lug and said lifting tab have center portions locatedadjacent the hinge web structure.
 13. The invention as set forth inclaim 1, and further including: a. fillet portions integral with saidweb structure at the juncture of the latter with the cap body andclosure cap, for increasing the stiffness of the web structure andminimizing the likelihood of breakage thereof, b. said web imparting abias force to the cap, to partially return the latter toward theregistration position thereof when the twisting force is removed. 14.The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said web structurehas a stiffness in an edge wise direction sufficient to partially returnthe cap toward the registration position thereof when twisting force isremoved.